Are the Mercato Centro, San Lorenzo & Nuovo markets located together or separate? Which markets are easiest to find & most interesting to visit? Do any of them offer a place for a quick inexpensive lunch or snack?

Hi G,

The Mercato Centrale, not far from the train station, has lots of food shops. There is an outdoor market right next door that sells clothes and stuff.

The central market IS the San Lorenzo market. It is a 2-story food market. Inside on the first floor there are several places to have a casual lunch; the most famous of these eateries is Nerbone at #292 where you can eat the boiled beef sandwich that has come to hold celebrated status in the food world. Outside the market are many stalls selling all kinds of tourist stuff...fake pashminas, leather, wallets and on and on...

There are other food markets in Florence including Sant Ambrogio where prices are often a bit less than at San Lorenzo.

On Tuesday mornings there is also a large market along the Arno: La Cascine.

...sorry you also asked about the Mercato Nuovo. This is also known as the Straw Market and focuses on souvenier-type items, not foodstuffs. Locals call it Il Porcellino after the little pig statue. The vendors occupy space under the loggia built in the 16th Century. To me the items there are mostly geared toward tourists, just like at the stalls outside the central market.

Hi

These links may help too -

http://www.sanlorenzomarket.com/index.cfm
http://www.florencedirecthotels.com/...markets-en.php
http://www.villafiesole.it/eng_florence_shopping.html

thanks for the replies.
I clicked on one the links given to me & saw Lorenzo market closed on Monday!
Please tell me this isn't true! I'll be in Florence on a Monday & I know that the museums are closed, but the market too????

Gipsy: Are you are interested in the actual food market or the stalls that surround the Central Market? The food market is open on Mondays and closed on Sundays. My information says that the clothing stalls are not open on Mondays, but I have read conflicting information about this point.

I've read conflicting reports also...we'll just have to wait & see.
Wanted to perhaps have lunch somewhere in the market, and also bring home some food souvenirs like olive oil & stuff like that.